학술논문

Shallow Geothermal Potential of the Sant’Eufemia Plain (South Italy) for Heating and Cooling Systems: An Effective Renewable Solution in a Climate-Changing Society
Document Type
article
Source
Geosciences, Vol 13, Iss 4, p 110 (2023)
Subject
borehole heat exchangers
geothermal potential
shallow geothermal energy
thermal conductivity
specific heat extraction
Sant’Eufemia plain
Geology
QE1-996.5
Language
English
ISSN
2076-3263
Abstract
In this work, the shallow geothermal heat-exchange potential of a coastal plain in southern Italy, the Sant’Eufemia plain (Calabria region), was evaluated. Stratigraphic and hydrogeological data and thermophysical properties of the main geological formations of the area have been averaged over the first 100 m of subsoil to define the thermal conductivity, the specific heat extraction rates of the ground and the geothermal potential of the area (MWh·y−1) for both cooling and heating modes. The investigation revealed that the crystalline bedrock and the saturated conditions of the sedimentary infill mainly control the heat-exchange potential. The range of the geothermal potential in the investigated Sant’Eufemia plain is 3.61–10.56 MWh·y−1 and 3.72–11.47 MWh·y−1 for heating and cooling purposes, respectively. The average depth drilled to supply a standard domestic power demand of 5.0 kW is ~90 m for heating and ~81 m for cooling modes. The different depth also drives the final drilling costs, which range from EUR 3200 to 8700 for the heating mode and from EUR 2800 to 7800 for the cooling mode. Finally, the mean values of drilling depth and costs for both heating and cooling modes are provided for the main municipalities and strategic sites.